by The ultra marathon race has never been as popular as today.
While in the past, ultra marathons were mainly confined to the roads and athletics tracks, it is of course the long distance trails and trails that now win the day.
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Here in Norfolk, we have several long-distance trails that see annual events such as the Norfolk coastal marathon, the Peddars Way Trail Ultra Marathon and Boudicca Way 50k to name a few. However, and although the county landscape is spectacular, I think it is right to say that we are quite devoid of the longest and the steepest climbs for which many other breeds are known.
Next week, thousands of people will arrive in Chamonix, in France, for the UTMB 100 mile race which takes place around Mont Blanc while crossing Italy and Switzerland – a total of 174 km (108 miles) with 9,900 meters described as “ the most legendary and prestigious trail racing in the world ”.
Although there are a maximum time of 46 hours and 45 minutes to finish the race, the front runners will cross the finish line in an incredible time of about 20 hours. The male record held by Kilian Jornet in 19 hours, 49 minutes and 30 seconds and the female record held by Katie Schide with a time of 22 hours, 30 minutes and 54 seconds.
Two Norfolk guys, who will pilot the county flag on the starting line with nearly two thousand other runners, are Craig Bowen-Jones and Colin Stark. They are both hardened and experienced athletes on a wide range of distances, but this next will really be a test.
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However, this is the story of Craig that I want to talk to you about this week because I know he has made a very long trip when it comes to his efforts to make the starting line for next Friday race.
Craig began to run in 2009 after a bet that saw him participate in the Great North Run.
The thrill he obtained not only from the race, but the fitness gains thanks to training led him to become very firmly hung on sport which was of course followed by a desire to finish a complete marathon.
He did this a year later, followed by 11 other races over the distance of 26.2 miles which included four chronometers less than three hours (PB 2:55:22).
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Just when he seemed that he could potentially break the 50 -minute barrier of 50 minutes, he made a serious back injury leading to thoughts to hang up his racing shoes.
It was until he approached his 50th anniversary with other thoughts leading to the Sables marathon, a six -day race race over seven days through the Sahara desert.
Needless to say with Craig, it quickly turned into reality and after 12 months of training for the event, he finished the race, finishing in a brilliant 31st place in total and third in his age category. Oh and of course, he clung again by the executed bug, but now it was for the much longer distances.
Long races and races on a variety of distances, undoubtedly have it to take up his greatest challenge to date, in July 2023, he set himself the task of running 250 miles over seven days to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s research with which his mother suffered.
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While running 35 miles a day for a week is a big business, I’m pretty sure that his biggest fight was with the emotions that managed to know that his mother suffered from this horrible disease. I would also add that after the third day, he participated in the Wroxham 5K race and still produced a good time of more than 21 minutes.
To say that the last race in the care house, where his mother remained, was emotional is a very eupheism, especially while being welcomed by a large crowd applauding and applauding his efforts while he was pushing his mother in his wheelchair with his wife Tracey by his side during what was the last meters of an epic race.
So, unfortunately, Craig’s mother died a month later and while he and the whole family were devastated, he also showed how resilient he is by winning the Brecon Beacons race 100 km a week later. “I used my mother’s death to give me strength and motivation to gain what is now my only race victory,” he said.
2024 tended to be a little a year of decline for Craig when he said to me further that he had lost his way somewhat and that I do not want to say during one of his long races, but after a DNF in the UTMB Snowdonia race, then to decide not to start the 145 km (90 miles) bench.
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In order not to be outdone and with his grain and his determination, he quickly rejected himself by which he returned to Snowdonia in May this year and finished the race for a shade for 20 hours.
It was just the boost he needed and was completely triggered, he now spent several weeks an intense training which also included two good races in the Lakeland 100k and the Serpentine 100k to be in the best form possible in the race next week and in his words “most of my life which has not only made more than 40 miles than before”.
For those who know Craig like me, he will groan, groan and swear a lot during all the miles, but at the same time, we also know that this is part of what makes him vibrate and even the super guy and the athlete that he is certainly.
My best wishes do not only give Craig for a great performance next week, but also to his wife Tracey, his son, his callum and his partner Isssi, his daughter Ellie and his partner Shaun more snowy Snowy and Jenny for what will undoubtedly be an incredible experience for all.
At the same time, my best wishes also go to Colin Stark who, I am sure, will also have an excellent race.
